By the Book — July 2

Published: Wednesday, July 2, 2014 11:00 a.m. CDT

PRINCETON — Today, Thursday, July 3, a nature walk with Jason Thompson will be at 10:30 a.m. at Hennepin Canal Lock 14. Meet in the lock parking lot. Advanced registration is required. To register, call 815-875-1331, ext. 2213, or stop by the youth services desk. Also Thursday, a craft night will begin at 6:30 p.m., and participants will get the chance to paint rock animals. All ages are welcome. Dress for painting. Also, at 6:30 p.m., Wild with Words — the creative writing group led by Martha Brunell will meet. All levels of writers are welcome to participate.

Friday, July 4, the library will be closed in observance of Fourth of July.

Saturday, July 5, Warrior Cats role-playing game day will be from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Participants will create a cat, choose a clan, hunt for food, train for battle and become a warrior.

Monday, July 7, the Monday children’s matinee movie will begin at 4:30 p.m. and feature a dog who stars on an action TV show and believes he has superpowers. When he accidentally finds himself too far from the studio, he learns his superpowers and his TV show, aren’t real. A female alley cat and a hamster in a rollerball help to find the way home to the studio and to “his person.” Also Monday, the Monday Night Movie will begin at 6:30 p.m. and feature a lonely and friendless boy who finds and untangles a hurt dolphin that is caught in a crab trap. He becomes very attached to the dolphin when the tail must be taken off to save the dolphin’s life. The boy believes the dolphin would be able to swim normally if it was given a prosthetic tail.

Tuesday, July 8, the preschool story time will meet at 10:30 a.m., and two separate sessions will meet. The session for kids ages 4 and under will meet in the children’s area, and the session for the children ages 5 and up will meet in the Matson meeting room. The theme is dogs. Also Tuesday, the program “Rose O’Neil, Creator of the Kewpie” will meet at 6:30 p.m. Meet this turn-of-the-century artist through a Skype visit with Linda Brewster, author of “Rose O’Neil, the Girl who Loved to Draw.”

Wednesday, July 9, the Widmark Wednesday Movie will begin at 6 p.m. and feature a historical drama based on the famous standoff between the Mexican Army and a small garrison near San Antonia during the Texas Revolution in 1836. Also Wednesday, chicks with sticks crochet/knitting group will meet at 6:30 p.m. Newcomers welcome.

Thursday, July 10, meet Chicago author Beth Finke and her seeing eye dog, Whitney, at 10:30 a.m. See how a guide dog and a blind person work together. Sponsored by Norberg Memorial Home. Also Thursday, at 4 p.m. the Friends Book Club will discuss “I Know why the Caged Bird Sings,” by Maya Angelou. Also, at 6:30 p.m. a talk about will be held about the importance of pollinators and pollinator plants with Ellen Starr.

SPRING VALLEY — The Richard A. Mautino Library’s summer reading program Paws to Read will be ongoing until July 24.

Monday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., the first through third grades will meet; Tuesday 1:30-2 p.m. or 5:30-6 p.m., the prekindergarten through kindergarten (story time) group will meet; Wednesday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., the fourth through sixth grades will meet; and Thursday 5-6 p.m., the seventh through 12th grades will meet at the library.

Also, the library is hosting an adult summer reading program. Each adult that wishes to participate will be given a reading log and need to record six books they have read during the summer. For each book the patron will be asked to rate the book and give a few comments about the book. The deadline for turning in the reading log is Aug. 1, and then they will be entered in a prize drawing. There will be five winners for the reading program. For more information, please stop by the library and/or contact the library at 815-663-4741.

TISKILWA — The schedule for summer reading programs and story hours is as follows: July 8 - Story hour/Sharks Animals for all ages from 2 to 3 p.m.: July 15 - Story hour/ elephants for all ages from 2 to 3 p.m.: July 21 - Program with local author, Jan Powelson. We will be reading Jan’s book “Rachel & Sammy Learn to Conserve” and doing a soil painting craft. All ages welcome! The program will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. at the library: July 22 - Story hour/dangerous pets for all ages from 2 to 3 p.m.: July 29 - Story hour/turtles for all ages from 2 to 3 p.m.; and Aug. 5 – Story hour from 2 to 3 p.m., all ages.

The library is also collecting donations for the Friends of Strays animal shelter. Patrons can drop off food, toys, cat litter and supplies and fill our wagon! Patrons who have a fine can “make payment” by making a donation to the animal shelter, and the fine will be forgiven. Stop by the library for details.

WALNUT — Don’t stop saving the Box Tops for Education! The Walnut Public Library has a pick up point for the Box Tops.

The library staff is planning a creative writing session this summer. Plans are still being worked out, so stay tuned to the library corner for more information.

Summer reading for the grade school children begins in July. The theme is Paws to Read. Join the library on Wednesday afternoons at 1:30 p.m. starting July 9.

Just a reminder, the library has three binders full of coupons for exchange. Feel free to come in and see what’s in the binders or drop off any coupons not be using. Expired coupons are sent to the men and women serving this country overseas, which are still valid to them.

Walnut Library has an ongoing book sale. Patrons can purchase a bag of books for a buck. The library also has old VHS tapes and audio books on tape, which can be used for crafting. Come on in and grab a bag of goodies.

OHIO — Wednesday, July 9, the library’s last summer reading session will begin at 3 p.m. Patrons will celebrate the last session with “cool” treats.

LADD — Ladd Public Library’s summer reading program, Paws to Read, has kicked off. Patrons meet at the library each Monday. Scheduling for the programs is as follows: Children entering prekindergarten or kindergarten will meet at 10 a.m.; children entering first through third grades will meet at 11 a.m., and children entering fourth through sixth grades will meet at 1 p.m.

Saturday, July 12 the library will host Great Boodini (Magic in the park) at 1 p.m. The fun happens at Veterans Memorial park.

Friday, July 18, Bingo for books will be at 1 p.m.

Monday, July 21, Mr. E’s Great Dog Race will be at 11 a.m. (Magic, music and puppets.)

BUDA — The Mason Memorial Library will be hosting its summer reading program, Paws to Read, on Tuesdays in July. The program is for children in kindergarten to fifth grade. For more information, stop by the library to register and pick up a flyer.

MINERAL — Saturday. July 9, the Mineral-Gold Public Library District will host a party to celebrate the summer reading program at 10:30 a.m. All children between the ages of 4 years old (preschool) through eighth grades are welcome to attend.

NEPONSET — The Neponset Public Library is holding a pet supply drive for the Henry County Humane Society in Kewanee. Donations may be dropped off at the library. This is a great way to incorporate the summer reading theme as well as support the local animal shelter.

Preschool story times are ideal for children ages 3, 4 and 5 years old with adult participation. This week, the library will scurry through stories with small animal friends. Make a small craft to take home.

July 9, 2 p.m. -- “A Working Police Dog.”

Join the library when the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office discusses the importance of canines in law enforcement. A canine officer will show off her skills in the library.
For more information, please call 815-925-7020.

Gallop through fields with horses, cross the desert by camel, discover alpacas and their special wool, and explore animals with hooves. Join Hidden Paradise Alpacas as they share stories, cool facts and exciting activities with everyone.

July 10, 1 p.m., Granville Branch Library - Teen Reading Group at Granville Library.
Stop in at the Granville Branch Library and join in the book discussion. Open to tweens and teens, everyone is welcome to come and share their favorite book, learn about new titles, and discuss old favorites. Do you have an awesome book you’d like to talk about on video? Record a video book talk that will be uploaded to the District’s YouTube Channel and Facebook page.

Don’t forget the teen summer reading scavenger challenge. Teens can create an account on the district’s webpage, www.putnamcountylibrary.org, browse and review the new non-fiction collection, and find clues along the way.

MAGNOLIA — July 10, 4 p.m., Magnolia Branch Library - Paws to Read.

This summer, readers will be able to dive with dolphins, cross the desert by camel, soar above the clouds with eagles, chatter with chipmunks and much more through library programming and books at the six Putnam County libraries.

The Putnam County Public Library District summer program includes fun events for kids of all ages, with special programs, books, and craft activities that will highlight our friends in the animal kingdom. Teens will enjoy activities and book discussions, while adults can explore fiction and non-fiction book displays, programs, and more.

MCNABB — Don’t forget the teen summer reading scavenger challenge. Teens can create an account on the district’s webpage, www.putnamcountylibrary.org, browse and review the new non-fiction collection, and find clues along the way.

July 12, 10 a.m. - “Feathered Friends.”

Join the library and feathered friends as they take flight and explore birds. Listen to bird stories and participate in the backyard bird scavenger hunt.

June 28, 11 a.m. - Preschool Storytime “Tweet! Tweet!”

Preschool storytimes are ideal for children ages 3, 4 and 5 years old with adult participation. This week, stories take flight with feathered friends. Make a small craft to take home.

For more information, please call 815-882-2378.

STANDARD — July 10, 2 p.m. - “A Working Police Dog.”

Join as the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office discusses the importance of canines in law enforcement. A canine officer will show off her skills in the library.